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5/28/14

Morning Report – May 28th – Mack’s Army, Jeff Hoffman, Zack Thornton, 2015


                                                                                             
Coming Later Today –   

         9 30 am - Herb G's Minor League Report          

         11 am -   Reese Kaplan - "If You Choose Not to Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice"
                                                   
        12 30 pm – Robb – How To Improve The Mets

          3 pm - 2015 Draft Profile  -  RHP  -  Nolan Kingham  -  Sierra Vista (NV) HS

         6 pm - Greg Deichmann, Jacob Gatewood, Jakson Reetz, Jace Fry, Jordan Brink



Kevin Bartner @heshsson - @JohnMackinAde Mets are 20 for 129(.155) with only 4 XBHs in bases loaded, 2nd & 3rd & 1st & 3rd situations combined. Incredibly weak.



John Loopy said – Nimmo, Herrera, Riviera and Matz should all be up to Bingo ASAP.

Mack – I sometime feel like I’m either General Grant or Lee, trying to directly my various battles going on during my attempt to someday achieve victory

Right now, my main ‘army’ is the pro and AAA level pitchers that are beginning to kick ass wherever they go. We talked about them yesterday and they do not represent a problem to this team.

I would then have to put my next ‘most talented group’ in a younger, almost, General Pickett’s hit and hit again ‘posse’ with the talent youth in the organization. Names like CF Brandon Nimmo (.344), 2B/SS Dilson Herrera (,324), 3B/1B Jairo Perez (.328), 1B/IF T.J. Rivera (.368), SS/2B Phillip Evans (.280), SS/2B Gavin Cecchini, and SS/2B L.J. Mazzilli (.266), 2B/3B Jeff McNeil (.323), and 1B Dominic Smith (.271).

The good news is these ‘Raiders’ aren’t going to need as much pitching support as other companies in this army, but the bad news is they are two years away from the home front, hitting far too many short balls, and mostly middle infielder fighting for two permanent positions.

The Matz situation may be a lone rider trying get to the main army one year earlier that projected. He just might be the last true prospect starter in the Mets system past Noah Syndergaard, and, of course, the upcoming draft (why do you think I have written so much about power college arms like Tyler Beede, Kyle Freeland, and Sean Newcomb).



Derek McKnight to me -

With the trend of the Mets going under slot to save money for lower picks, why in your opinion would the Mets pass over (East Carolina RHP) Jeff Hoffman? Is it because of his TJS and they would be afraid to waste a top 10 pick on an injured player? The recover from the surgery is more successful these days than not, why not try and sign him under slot to save money. They would be getting a top ten player for lower first round, second round money.

        Mack – Hey Derek.

First, Hoffman doesn’t have to settle for under slot money. There’s a 99.9% chance that Boston would take him at #18 and they would gladly pay the full freight. Yes, you are right… the TJS issue doesn’t have the clout like it used to but that works both ways when it comes to the bonus money too.

Hoffman will, by far, be the best person on the board if he’s still up there at #10, but Alderson would never take on the reaction from the mass under-educated Mets fans that are all over #Twitter these days (remember… they aren’t buying tickets with any regularity anymore).
It’s a shame. You could place him right in the Binghamton rotation when he’s cleared around the all-star break in 2015.



The Mets have obviously not hit rock bottom yet. For my team, this might not be a bad time to consider replacing relief pitcher Scott Rice with Zack Thornton.

We all know this team isn’t going to win many games with bats, but we also know we’re getting sick of losing games being thrown away by aging members of the pen. Rice has done a nice job and his playing for 123 years in the minors made for a nice story, but let’s move on with Josh Edgin as our lefty for the rest of the season until someone else develops.

I’d like to see what Thornton has before the trading season begins. In addition, let’s cut some plane tickets and get all those guys (Adam Kolarek, Jack Leathersich, John Church, Chase Bradford) that are supposed to be playing AAA ball this year out of New York State for good. You can’t develop a bullpen if you don’t… err… develop a bullpen.


And lastly…

        Bob Gregory asked -

Mack, so, Alderson & company have been telling fans for years to have patience and wait till 2014.  Harvey is injured  and it becomes wait till 2015.  Now news comes regarding Syndegards injury.  Are the Mets going to tell the fans to wait for 2016 if Syndicated ends up needing surgery?

        Mack – Morning Bob.

Well, I don’t think Alderson is going to say anything this time. The 2014 version of this team has wasted little time in sending the word out that there isn’t enough in the dugout to get the job done this season.

Alderson, if chosen, has a few directions to go

He needs to stop by Fred Wilpon’s office and see if their still no money in the can. There are still some players out there that can help this team both this year and in the future.

He next needs to sit back and decide if Terry Collins is the person that can return this team to respect. If not, go back to Fred’s office and let him know that there will have to first be some money spent on a new manager.
I could on forever here… pen management… talent in pen… 120+ pitches in one outing… but, if you want to start to turn this ‘May hiccup’ around, stop doing the things that are causing the loses. We know the team has a run problem, but it’s the pen that is killing them right now.


I won’t go off on my Montero rant again, but, if he was back there with Mejia and Familia… and Torres was moved to the long man… and Dice-K replaced Montero in the pen until Gee returned…  I guarantee you this team would start winning games again that they give up only three runs. 

12 comments:

  1. Hey Mack

    Gotta add the P Boys (Plawecki and Puello) to Mack's Army.

    I still think Puello (who is frustrating in his progress) will be a starting OF for the Mets by next year. Plawecki may be ready right now.

    His last 23 games (including last nite's suspended affair), he has 12 doubles, 5 HRs, 27 RBIs, and .435. Last AA Met to hit like that? David Wright. So are we sure that a d'Arnaud/Plawecki catching tandem could not work in the very near future?

    Your pen plan makes real sense, especially when you have Dice K and not Sean Marcum to move into the rotation in Montero's place. That would make it a very, very competitive pitching staff right now. Squeeze some added offense from the other guys that comprise this team, and this team could turn it around. Now.

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  2. Darin Gorski and John Churn joined Las Vegas this morning.

    Something is wrong in Vegas with Puello. Sat out 4 games but team denied injury. Is he not getting along with Wally?

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  3. Thor is a-ok.....MRI came back clean.

    Will sit out for 2 weeks and then resume throwing. Probably for the best as it saves him some innings.

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  4. Good question on Puello, Mack. He played last nite, and had a hit, 2 walks, and his favorite pastime, a HBP. But his sporadic playing time, and his mysterious visit this year to Biogenesis, may have some linkage. Hopefully, I am wrong in that connection - he did his 50 games, let's move on. But I already offered my playing time solution - release Niewenhuis. In late 2012 and early 2013 with Mets, he was an Ankiel-like 9 for 90 with 40 Ks. Anyone can turn it around, but in AAA this year, he is .245 with 32 K's in 31 games.

    The year before he first joined the Mets, he had a good short year in many respects with Buffalo, but there it was again - 59 Ks in 53 games that year. For a lefty hitter to strike out like that in the minors, when you mostly face righties, is in my view a fatal flaw. Strikeout rate has to hemorrhage vs. major league caliber pitchers. So free up time for the young Puello to play every day by moving Kirk on. if he is so valuable, trade him for someone.

    I thought Puello was a very good attitude guy...if not, and he's having issues with Wally that are character issues rather than frustration at him not doing better, he can be traded too. I'd like to see him stay and succeed.

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  5. Plaw made d'Arnaud look bad in his rehab he is hitting so well. I guess Reyes did turn into something good after all.

    Last nights game was the first fun one in a while (minus the 8 walks). Lagares continues to look brilliant. He would have had an even better night if not for McCutcheons amazing catch robbing him of a double or triple. He is now 8th in the league in WAR despite missing 15 games on the DL and being benched by TC for the better part of a week.

    Tejada had his best game of the year. One could only dream that he could ever do that on a consistent basis.

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  6. Morning Mack:

    Good morning report I enjoy it everyday.

    How did you like TC, going retro with the closer lastnight? 6 out save!

    I agree with you on Rice but I think he should stay till Leathersich proves like Black he can throw more strikes. Then he can be the 2nd lefty in the pen.

    I really think they should be playing Puello in RF,everyday till he is ready to take over Abreu's spot!

    I also agree with you the Mets are drafting Newcomb, unless he goes before that?
    Then they will go to plan B

    The good thing with a Plawecki/d'Arnaud tandem is last year when Boyd was hurt, Plawecki played some 1st? So he could play 1st against a tough lefty giving Duda the night off.

    Enjoy the day, I look forward to your comments

    Steve

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  7. Thomas -

    Per Adam Rubin, Mets Insider comments on Puello:

    “Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Matt den Dekker and Andrew Brown are better. Brandon Allen and Allan Dykstra are better. Puello stats don’t even do justice to how bad he has been. Lots of broken bats. Lots of infield hits. His hits have been against bad pitchers. He is overmatched.”

    Yikes

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  8. Hey Steve -

    Re Puello - seems they are hing some problems with him... just posted above comments from a "Mets Insider" per Adam Rubin.

    There's a good chance the Mets are going to have to wait until 2017 to dvelop a decent outfielder out of their system. Sandy needs to sell off the contracts and, IMO, go get Crawford from the Dodgers. There's only two outfielders on that team available and you don't want Eitheir and his head problems.

    The beat guys are going to keep the pressure on and the league is going to start making phone calls to Fred. Things have to change.

    I actually agree with you on Rice but the Mets don't seem to be in any hurry to develop a lefty out of AAA. Must be the batting coach again.

    I'm so confused.

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  9. Anybody keeping up with the all-star candidate CMcHugh ?!? Putting up some serious #'s.. I actually think his success could bode well if Alderson decides to part with DeGroom or even Montero, might show that our B list prospects can be successful and the Mets have pedigree for producing pitching, we shall see thou .....anyone care to bet me Ike Davis takes Bartolo deep to the tune of 430 ft today ??

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  10. I can't be happier for Collin who is one of the nicest people you would ever meet.
    And, a great writer.

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  11. wasn't last year's payroll $89 million?
    Has anybody noticed that Alderson's pre-season comment that
    payroll would INCREASE this year, has changed into

    $85 million being "the same as last year"???!!!

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  12. That take is sad about Puello...real disturbing. I wodered why he was not higher on some prospect lists this winter - seems he did not convince many folks last year.

    On the flip side, great for McHugh.. unexpected..good for him. Maybe Gorski can follow suit.

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